Care home wins top environment award

A Bexhill care home has scooped a National Environment Award for its 50 Plants for 50 Years project.

Peterhouse, in Church Street, was named as the National Green Champion for the NHS and Health Industries, and facilities and hotel manager Dan Piddlesden and groundsman Rob Sands went to the House of Commons to collect the award last week.

“It was a pleasure to manage the project. Everyone contributed ideas and Rob Sands, our groundsman, worked tirelessly to implement it,” said Mr Piddlesden.

“Residents, relatives, staff and visitors have enjoyed taking the ‘anniversary walk’ and we are looking to engage with local community groups in Spring 2017, including primary schools, so that they can visit and gain the most from our grounds too.”

The 50 Plants for 50 Years project was a fully inclusive scheme which involved using donations from residents, relatives, volunteers, staff and suppliers to purchase 50 new plants, shrubs and trees to mark the home’s 50th anniversary this year.

Items selected included specific plants for its new Managed Grassland Habitat which attracts endangered species such as bees. The impact has been both environmental and human, as many of the residents have been encouraged to get out into the grounds more, to take the ‘anniversary walk’ following a map that guides people around the grounds to view the new 50 plants.

Sara Whalley, director of operations, said: “It’s been good news all round. We’ve had a hat-trick - first we were awarded Team of the Year by the 1066 Awards, then our recent CQC inspection highlighted the ‘good’ care at Peterhouse, and now this huge honour - a national environment award.

“Staff and residents are thrilled, and continue to enjoy our very special community. We look forward to a fun-packed Christmas calendar and have many exciting plans for 2017.”

The home has launched a fundraising campaign to complete its anniversary walk path, so that people with wheelchairs can access the last part of the walk, which is currently a laid to grass. Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anniversarypath to donate.

See www.peterhousecare.com for more information.

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